To James R. Osgood
31 July 1882 • Elmira, N.Y.
(MS facsimile: CU-MARK, UCCL 12448)

‸Yes, I find no fault with Harley’s darkies.‸

Elmira July 31/82.

My Dear Osgood—

The Kaolatype stands me in, out, up to the present time, [thirty] or forty thousand dollars—the latter figure is nearest, [perhaps]. It has been a pretty uniform expense of $500 a month for 3 years & upwards; [but] there has been a scattering week or so, latterly, when it [has] paid its week’s expenses. So I judge it won’t be much of a [trick] to make her go, now. What will you give me for a fourth, [fifth], or sixth interest? Look in [on] Webster & let him expose his [books] & his business from the beginning. This is the first time I have ever offered any [part] or portion of the thing [for] sale—but there was no way [to] guess out a value before. In [the] first place, I want your [brains]; & after the business has ◊◊en ‸begun‸ to pay a fair & regular profit, [I] want an establishment started [in] Boston. Soon sell you [a] shop-right as not, but would [rather] have you on board as member of the fambly.

Meantime, don’t forget to keep an eye on that Bierstadt [business]—we must be around [in] case anything happens to it.

My hope was, to be able to write 10,000 words a week, [here]. I was sick two or three days, in the beginning, & Jean’s [attack] kept me worried for a [while]; still, I have written my [15,000] words in the week & a [half] that I have been actually [at] work. Hope I can keep [it] up.

MS in the hands of a [copyist], here, would probably be [unsafer] than in the safe of [Adams] Express—so I think [I] will revise this, after a few [days], & ship it to you without having it copied.

All hands well, now.

Ys Truly

S L Clemens

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS facsimile, CU-MARK. The facsimile, supplied by Christie’s East in 1994, is imperfect: many of the letters on the left edges of the pages are partly or wholly obscured. Two additional sources have been used as a basis for emendation where necessary: a transcription in an undated Profiles in History auction catalog (no. 25, lot 112), and a facsimile of the first page in a Remember When Auctions catalog (31 March–5 April 1999, no. 45, lot 3622). Partly obscured but otherwise readable letters have been silently restored; all missing letters have been supplied by emendation, as listed below.

Previous publication:

Christie’s East, 21 September 1994, lot 54, partial publication; Remember When Auctions, 31 March–5 April 1999, no. 45, lot 3622, partial facsimile and publication; Profiles in History, unknown date, no. 25, lot 112, partial publication; MicroPUL, reel 2.

Emendations and textual notes:

thirty • ◊hirty

perhaps • ◊erhaps

but • ◊ut

has • ◊as

trick • ◊rick

fifth • ◊ifth

on • ◊n

books • ◊ooks

part • ◊art

for • ◊or

to • ◊◊

the • ◊◊e

brains • ◊rains

I • ◊

in • ◊◊

a • ◊

rather • ◊ather

business • ◊usiness

in • ◊◊

here • ◊ere

attack • ◊ttack

while • ◊hile

15,000 • ◊5,000

half • ◊alf

at • ◊t

it • ◊t

copyist • copy-|◊◊t

unsafer • ◊nsafer

Adams • ◊dams

I • ◊

days • ◊ays